Two foreign women who were allegedly abducted and gangraped in Lahore last week have left for Europe after completing the required legal formalities, Punjab Police said on Sunday.
The case gained national attention after police identified one of the arrested suspects as the grandson of Pakistan Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar.
Victims complete legal process before departure
Lahore Deputy Inspector General (Operations) Faisal Kamran said the women underwent medical examinations with their consent and recorded their statements with assistance from their respective embassies before leaving for Europe.
The alleged incident took place after the women arrived in Pakistan on June 29. One woman is from the Netherlands and the other from Venezuela.
Timeline of the case
Police said Muhammad Raza Dar first met the two women in Singapore in October 2025 through a cryptocurrency venture. Investigators said the three later became business partners and that Raza Dar arranged business visas for the women to travel to Pakistan.
According to police, the women arrived in Lahore on June 29 and were taken to a residence in the Defence Housing Authority area. Investigators alleged that they were abducted, sexually assaulted and confined soon after reaching the city.
The accused allegedly demanded a ransom of $1.5 million in cryptocurrency from the victims' families for their release. According to The Media Line, the father of one of the women contacted Lahore's Rescue 15 emergency helpline from Spain after losing contact with his daughter and her friend following their arrival in Pakistan.
The Dutch ambassador to Pakistan became involved after learning that one of the victims was a Dutch citizen, prompting an immediate response from the Punjab government led by Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif.
Eight suspects arrested
Police have arrested eight suspects in connection with the case.
Kamran identified Muhammad Raza Dar as the prime suspect. The other identified suspects are Hassan Raza, Sikandar Khan and Sajid Ali, who have been remanded in police custody until July.
Kamran said additional suspects had also been arrested but did not disclose their identities.
The accused have been booked under Sections 365A (kidnapping) and 375A (gangrape) of the Pakistan Penal Code.
Police said another suspect identified only as "Boss" in the first information report remains at large, and raids are continuing to trace the individual.
Political reaction
The case also drew a political response after Pakistani Senator Faisal Vawda, who has close links with the country's military establishment, called on Saturday for Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar to resign following the arrest of his grandson.
